Coroner investigation
A death will be reported to a Coroner in the following circumstances:
- An accident or injury.
- An industrial disease.
- During a surgical operation.
- Before recovery from an anaesthetic.
- Where the cause of death is unknown.
- Where the death is sudden and unexplained, for example a sudden infant death (cot death).
When the death is reported to a Coroner, a member of the Coroner's Office will contact you to let you know.
You will be advised that the death cannot be registered, and the funeral cannot take place, without the Coroner's authorisation.
A Coroner can order a post-mortem examination to discover the cause of death. A Coroner may also hold an inquest, which is an investigation into circumstances leading up to the death. When an inquest is called the Coroner's officer will contact the relatives.
Where a death has been reported to the Coroner the Medical Certificate will be issued directly from the Coroner's Office before you are able to register the death at the Register Office.
When an inquest is to be held the death cannot be registered until the inquest has been completed, but a certificate will usually be issued at the opening of the inquest to allow the funeral to take place.